Mad Season – Artificial Red

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Artificial red, smoke, poison consumed
In the house of ill repute
Is this the way I spend my days
In recovery of a fatal disease?
On a cloud of pink has to grey
And I'm alone again, yeah
Someone to hold against my own
Alone, untouched is what I crave
Artificial Red, smoke, poison consumed
In the house of ill repute
Is this the place I search for love
When my need is within me, a gift from above?

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Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death

Track duration: 06:15


Artificial Red song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment:As I remember it, Layne got into Mad Season during, or strait after time in rehab, so it seems to make sense he'd write about it.
    The whole Pink cloud/grey cloud, reminds me of something I've often said
    'The world's a dull, and depressing place a sober grey'

    I love the line
    'In recovery of a fatal disease'
    Just right.
    Flag Domaithianuson December 03, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I guess everyone got the message here. The theme is fitting to the music, good song. "Is this the place I search for love, when my need is within me, a gift from above?"
    Flag DJgifon June 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Such an amazing song.

    Clearly, well not clearly, it seems to be about drug addiction, more specifically the challenges presented in rehab.

    He wants to stop, or at least he thinks he does. Then reality sets in, followed by doubt. The sound of the song is simply mind blowing. The song is very powerful.
    Flag dbieon12on July 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:actually, the pink cloud turned to grey reference in this song as well as AIC's Would is specific to addiction recovery. Both songs represent Layne's ambilence toward drug use and recovery from drug use. In AA/NA, they specifically talk about the "pink cloud" people are on when they first come into recovery. You are just so darn happy to not be sick, in jail, broke, or what have you...However, once that feeling of relief goes away (and it does) the reality of life, what you have lost, where you have been, and the realization of the enormous amount of work you have ahead of you to truly "recover" from drug addiction (the fatal disease), that warm, fuzzy "pink cloud" feeling goes away. In fact, 12 steppers will often warn about relapse when they talk about the "pink cloud". Reality hasn't set in yet. When the pink cloud turns to grey is when you realize what a mess you've made. As in Layne's case, he couldn't beat those demons.. RIP Layne
    Flag Summer03on September 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Good call, I wasn't aware of the methadone connection or the matching lyrics with Angry Chair.

    I think it is implied that he craves "someone to hold against my own" but he is looking in the wrong places, "the house of ill repute." This, paired with his addictions, make the song a confession of his feelings at the time.

    His answer is in the last lyric- "My need is within me, a gift from above."
    Flag sprizzleon September 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think of this song as Angry Chair Part 2. Angry Chair is sort of about Laynes childhood and how it related to his adddiction and Artifical Red about his atempted recovery ("In recovery of a fatal disease?
    ") and regret and how it was making him more reclusive ("Alone, untouched is what I crave").
    Flag Daniel_87on May 13, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:artificial red = methadone

    yep, know it well.
    Flag marson June 18, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:LOL, every one gave up on this on =) This is one of his most brilliant songs.... Any whos spent time in MMT knows the lingo, artificial red is in fact, methadone. Poison & Smoke are just booze and nicotine. Layne never stopped drinking even though he was clean for Above and Tripod.
    Flag WillowTheWispon May 12, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Again, this song is most likely about Layne's battle with drugs. "Is this the way I spend my days in recovery of a fatal disease". This part is a little heavier than the rest of the song, in his expression of fustration in fighting his battle. "0n a cloud of pink has turned to grey and I'm alone again", indeed very similar to the lyrics in Angry Chair. He's basically saying that he is in a constant state of sorrow and regret in his isolation.
    Flag SwornToTheBlackon August 19, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:He kinda explained that in the Rolling Stone article, when he first started drugs they were like his best friend, a pink cloud. But all the sudden they turned on him and his "best friend", his "pink cloud" turned to gray. Get it?
    Flag LayneIsGodon August 18, 2002   Link

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